She's longing to be loved.
Lady Cara Falcot has only served one purpose to her loathsome father -
to increase his power through a marriage to the future Duke of
Billingsley. As such, she's built protective walls about her heart, and
presents an icy facade to the world around her. Journeying home from her
finishing school for the Christmas holidays, Cara's carriage is stranded
during a winter storm. She's forced to tarry at a ramshackle inn, where
she immediately antagonizes another patron - William.
He's avoiding his duty in favor of one last adventure.
William Hargrove, the Marquess of Grafton has wanted only one thing in
life - to avoid the future match his parents would have him make to a
cold duke's daughter. He's returning home from a blissful eight years of
traveling the world to see to his responsibilities. But when a winter
storm interrupts his trip and lands him at a falling-down inn, he's
forced to share company with a commanding Lady Cara who initially
reminds him exactly of the woman he so desperately wants to avoid.
A Christmas snowstorm ushers in the spirit of the season.
At the holiday time, these two people who despise each other due to
first perceptions are offered renewed beginnings and fresh starts. As
this gruff stranger breaks down the walls she's built about herself,
Cara has to determine whether she can truly open her heart to trusting
that any man is capable of good, and that she herself is capable of
love. And William has to set aside all previous thoughts he's carried of
the polished ladies like Cara, to be the man to show her that love.
